Slug casting machine



Oct. 5, 1937. J HlLPMAN 2,095,002.

SLUG CASTING MACHINE- Filed Sept. 3, 1936 -2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORPatented Oct. 5, 1937 PATENT OFFICE SLUG CASTING MACHINE John H.Hilpman, Springfield Gardens, N. Y.,as-

signor to Mergenthaler Linotype Company, a corporation of New YorkApplication September 3, 1936, Serial No. 99,193

20 Claims.

This invention relates to slug casting machines of the generalorganization represented in U. S. Letters Patent to O. Mergenthaler, No.436,532, wherein circulating matrices and expansible spacebands arereleased from their respective storage magazines and then assembled inline, the composed line transferred to a vertically movable transporteror first elevator which thereupon descends to present it tow the face ofa slotted mold, the spacebands then expanded to justify the line and themold filled with molten metal to cast a type-bar or slug against theline, and the transporter thereafter raised to its uppermost level andthe matrices and spacebands returned through transfer and distributingmechanism to the magazines from which they started.

The matrices employed in these machines are formed on their oppositeedges with upper and lower projecting ears and are usually provided ontheir casting edges with two superposed characters, one roman and theother italic or otherwise. In composing a line including both kinds ofcharacters, the matrices are assembled at two different levels, and whenthe line is transferred to the line transporter, those matrices standingat the lower level (with their upper or roman characters in castingposition) are supported therein by their upper cars which rest on a pairof fixed rails formed on the inner walls of. the front and rear jaws ofthe transporter, while those matrices standing at the upper level (withtheir lower or italic characters in'casting position) are supported inthe transporter solely by their lower front ears which rest on a singleretractible rail arranged in the front jaw of the transporter.

In practise it has been found that the matrices standing in thetransporter at the upper level (due to the fact that they are supportedsolely by their lower front ears) frequently become turned or twistedand fall out of the transporter or else become so badly displaced as tocause damage to themselves and other parts of the machine (as duringcasting) or to interfere with the normal operation of the machine (asduring line transfer). This objectionable twisting or displacementoccurs particularly during the ascent of the transporter following acasting operation, at which time the matrices may lack lateral support,e. g. after a quadding or centering operation or after the return of thespacebands to unexpanded condition. The occurrence is most frequentduring recasting, i. e. when the same line of matrices is usedrepeatedly to produce duplicate slugs, and when. of course thetransporter is required to present the line in casting position morethan once before theline is removed therefrom.

The present invention is intended to obviate the above and otherdifll'culties and, to this end specifically, the transporter is equippedwith friction members, in the form of thin flat downwardly-bowedsprings, arranged on its front and rear jaws in position to bear uponthe top edgesof the upper projecting ears of those matrices supportedtherein at the upper 'level. These springs not only serve by theirfriction effect to retain the matrices in proper place upon theirsupporting rail but in addition they assist, by the downward pressure,which they exert, in bringing the matrices to the lower level (inalinement with those already supported at that level) when theirsupporting rail is automatically retracted preparatory to the transferof the line from the transporter. i a

In the accompanying drawings, the invention has been shown merely by wayof example and p in preferred form and obviously many changes andvariations may be made therein and in its mode of application which willstill be comprised'gg within its spirit. It is to be understood,therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form orembodiment except insofar as such limitations are specified in theappended claims.

In the drawings:'- V

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of a portion of. a slugcasting machine embodyingthe present improvements, and showing certainparts of the line assemblingline delivery, and line transfer devices; i

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the rear jaw of the line transportershowing the matrix engaging spring in its normal inactive position andshowing a composed line of matrices in the course of transfer into thetransporter;

Fig. 3 is a. similar View, showing the composed line (with matricesstanding at different levels) 7 after it has entered the transporter,and showing the spring as it appears in action;

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of the transporter, and showing the springs asattached to both its front and rear jaws;

Fig. 5 is an end View of the transporter shown as containing a line ofmatrices; a

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the rear jawof the transporter, its matrixengaging spring and attaching parts; and

Fig. '7 is a vertical section through the rear transporter jaw, taken onthe line 11 of Fig. 2, 55-

. the assembling elevator I2.

'able line transporter or first elevator I1.

and showing the matrix engaging spring in its normal position.

In the operation of the machine, the matrices l0 and spacebands Hare'delivered from their places of storage by the manipulation ofthekeyboard (not shown) and are composed in line in After the line hasbeen composed, the assembling elevator I2 is raised to position itbetween the depending fingers l3 and M of the line delivery slide l5,

which thereupon transfers the line through the intermediate channel Itinto the vertically mov- The line transporter I! then descends tocasting position, where the composed line'is located in front,

of the mold and between the vise jaws l8 and I9 which clamp the lineendwise during the slug casting operation. Before the line is completelyclamped up, however, justification of the line takes place, thespacebands being expanded to move the matrices apart and spread the lineto full length. After the slug is cast, the pressure on the vise jaws I8 and I9 is released and the line transporter l'lascen'ds to its uppertransfer position, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. l, wherethe'transfer'slide 20 removes the line from the transporter I1 into theupper transfer channel ill from .which'the'matriceslfl and thespacebands I l are returned to their usual places of storage.

' As usual, each of the matrices I0 isformed on its. opposite edges withupper and lower projecting ears 22 and 2 3, respectively, and on'itsrear or casting edge with two superposed characters 7 25 and 26, oneroman and the other italic or otherwise. the customary tooth combinationweb 24.

'When a printing slug bearing both kinds of characters is to be cast,the matrices are com- The transporter I1 comprises front and rear' jaws2'land 28 formed with'a pair of upper fixed.

rails 29 and 30 (Fig. 5) arranged to support matrices standing at thelower level by their upper projecting ears 22. The front jaw 21 is alsoprovided with a lower retractible rail -3| arranged to' support matricesstanding at the upper level by their front lower cars 23 only, the railbeing automatically'retractedwhen the transporter is in theuppertransfer position by depending overhead projections 32 on themachine frame to allow the matrices at the upper level to drop to thelower level prior to the transfer of the line from the transporter.Matrices that fail to drop by gravity to the lower level as the rail 3!is retracted are pushed down by a stationary V- shaped bar 33 positionedto engage the tooth combination websv 24 'of the matrices. V Thespacebands II are supportedin the transporter in the usual way, beingformed at the top and at opposite edges with narrowears I l which entercorrespondingly narrow grooves 1 l formed: faces of the transporter jaws21' in the opposed and 28. V

Inasmuch as those matrices which are assembled at the upper lever aresupported in the line transporter l1 only by their front lowerprojecting ears23 which rest on the retractible rail 3|, they frequentlybecome'twisted or turnedor At the top, the matrix is provided withotherwise displaced during the movement of the transporter l1, and giverise to the objections be- 7 35 secured to the front and rear jaws ofthe transporter just abovethe spaceband grooves I l and.

beneath shoulders 35 and 31, respectively, these springs being made witha permanent downward bow (see Figs. 2 and 5) and arranged to bear uponthe top edges of both upper ears 22 of .matrices supported inthetransporter at the up- Each spring isformed with a pair of l perlevel. upwardly extending lugs 38, one near each end, fitting intovertical recesses 39 out in the inner walls of the transporter jaws andsecured therein by means of tap bolts or'studs 4B, the unthreaded orshank portions of the studs passing through holes 4| drilled through thejaws of the trans,- porter and through apertures 42 in the lugs, and thethreaded orend portions of the studs being screwed into tapped holes d3in retaining plates 44 channeled or recessed t0 fit over the lugs.

.At the line receiving end of the transporter, the springs are bentupwardly against shoulders '45, formed by cutting away the jaws of thetransporter; soas not to interfere with the entrance of the matricesinto the transporter; and to prevent edgewise displacement of the bentup ends, they are protected by outwardly extending guard plates 46formed, on the adjacent retaining:

to the matrices as the latter enter the transporter, the attaching lugs38 are permitted a' certain amount of play, this being provided for byslightly widening therecesses 39 in the'transporter jaws, as well as therecesses in theretaining plates M, and byslightly enlargingthe;

apertures 42 in the lugs (see Fig. 3). As the springs are straightenedout, they will, of course,

exert a downward pressure on the matrices, but a in this connection itshould be noted that the springs are so thin and flexible as toaccomniodate themselves to any irregularities in alinement of the topedges of the matrices, due to wear or other causes.

With this arrangement, when a composed line with matrices assembled atboth levels is deprojecting ears 2 2 'of the matrices supported at theupper level and hold the matrices in proper place upon the retractiblesupporting rail 3l,

overcoming any tendency of the matrices to turn or twist. In addition,when the rail 3| is retracted to allow the matrices at the upper levelto drop to the lower level, the springs impart a slight downward impetusto the matrices and act, particularly on the thinner lightweightmatrices, to dislodge any which tend tostick suf-' ficiently so as notto dropby gravity, thereby lessening the frequency with which matricesstrike the stationary V -shaped bar 33v during the ascent of thetransporter with consequent damage to the delicate teeth of theccmbination webs 24.

Various alternative arrangements 'will readily suggest themselves tothose skilled in the art- Thus, some of the benefits of the inventioncould be realized by substituting for the springs V 35 solid steelplates urged downwardly by springs cars at a lower level and. thefront-jaw having or by gravity to frictionally engage the upper ends ofthe matrices standing. at the upper level; likewise, stationary plateswith soft or yielding matrix engaging surfaces might be used toadvantage. Suchv modifications and others of similar character obviouslywould come within the scope of the present invention as defined. in theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is::

I. In or for a slug casting machine, a. line transporter provided withmeans for supporting matrices at upper and lower levels therein and withmeansv to frictionaily engage from above the top" edges of matricesstanding at the upper level.

2'. In or. for a slug casting machine, a line transporter provided withmeans for supporting matrices at upper and lower levels therein and withmeans to frictionally engage the top edges of matrices standing at theupper level, said friction means presenting ayieldable matrix engagingsurface capable of conforming to irregularities in alinement of the topedges of the matrices.

3. In or for a slug casting machine, a line transporter provided withmeans for supporting matrices at upper and lower'levels therein and witha friction member arranged to engage from above,,at one side of thecomposed line, the top edges of matrices supported at the upper level.

4. In: or for a slug casting machine, a line transporter provided withmeans for supporting matrices at upper and lower levels therein and witha pair ofv friction members arranged toengage, at both sides of thecomposed line,

top edges of matrices supported. at the upper level;

5. A linetransporter as specified in claim 1, characterized by thefactthat the friction means therein-referred to are in the form of longsprings overlying the upper level matrices.

6. A line transporter as specified in claim 1, characterized by the factthat the friction means therein referred to are in the form of longdownwardly-bowed springs overlying the upper level matrices and looselymounted at their 0pposite ends to permit straightening when engaged bythe matrices.

7. A line transporter as specified in claim 1, characterized by the factthat the friction means therein referred to are in the form of longsprings overlying the upper level matrices and so thin and flexible asto conform to irregularities in alinement of the top edges of thematrices.

8. In or for a slug casting machine equipped with matrices formed ontheir front and rear edges with upper and lower projecting cars, a

line transporter comprising front and rear jaws formed with an upperpair of fixed rails to sup port matrices by their two upper projectingcars at a lower level and the front jaw having a lower rail to supportmatrices by their lower front projecting cars at an upper level, saidtransporter being provided with a friction member arranged to engagefrom above, at one side of the composed line, the top edges of the upperprojecting ears of matrices supported at the upper level.

9. In or for a slug casting machine equipped with matrices formed ontheir front and rear edges with upper and lower. projecting cars, a linetransporter comprising front and rear jaws formed with an upper pair offixed raiis to support matrices by their two upper projecting a lowerrail to-sup'p'ort matrices by their lower front projecting ears at anupper level; said transporter being: provided-with apai'r of frictionmembers arranged to engage, at opposite-sides of the composed line, thetopedges of the upperprojecting ears of matrices supported at. the upperlevel;

10. Inor for a slug casting machine equipped with matrices formed ontheir front and rear edges with upper and. lower'projeeting cars, alinetransporter comprisingfront and rear jawsformed' with an upper pairof fixed rails to support matrices by their two upper projecting ears ata lower level and the front'jaw having a-lower rail to sup-portmatricesby their-lowerfront-pro jecting ears at anupper levehsaidtransporter" being provided'withalong flat spring arranged to bear down,atone side of the composed line, upon the top edges of the upperprojecting ears of matrices" supported at the'upper level} a 11; Inorfor a slug casting machine equipped with matrices formed on their frontand rear edges withupper and lower projecting cars, a line transportercomprising front and rear jaws formed with an'upper pair of fixed railst'o'support matrices by their two upper projecting ears at a lower leveland the front jaw having a lower rail to support matricesby their lowerf-rontprojecting ears at an upper level, said transporter being providedwith a pair of long flat Springs arranged to bear down, at Oppositesides of the composed linejupon the topedges of the' upperj projectingears of matrices supported at the-upper level. V

12. In or'for aslug casting machine equipped with matrices formed ontheir front and rear edges with upper and lower projecting ears; a

line transporter comprising front and rear jaws formed with anupper pairof fixed rail'st'o sup-- port matrices by their two upper pro-jectingears at a lower level and the front jaw having a lower rail to supportmatrices by their lower front pro jecting cars at an upper level, saidtransporter being provided with a long fiat spring arranged to beardown, at one side of the composed line,

upon the top edges of the upper projecting ears of matrices supported atthe upper level, said 'rail to support matrices by their lower fromprojecting cars at an upper level, said transporter being provided witha long flat spring arranged to bear down, at one side of the composedline, upon the top edges of the upper projecting ears of matricessupported at the upper level; saidspring being made with a permanentdownward bow and loosely mounted at its opposite ends to permitstraightening when engaged by the matrices.

14. In or for a slug casting machine equipped with matrices formed'ontheir front and rear edges with upper and lower projecting ears, a

line transporter comprising front and rear jaws formed with an upperpair of fixed rails to support matrices by their two upper projectingears at a lower level and the front jaw having a lower rail to supportmatrices by their, lower front projecting ears at an upper level,'s aidtransporter" being provided with a long flat spring arranged tobeardown, at one side of the composed line,

upon the top edges of the upper projecting ears of matrices; supportedat the upper level, said spring being formed at the receiving end of thetransporter with an upwardly turned portion to avoid; interference with.the matrices as they enterthe, transporter. t g

{In or for a slug casting machine equipped with matrices'formed on theirfront and rear edges with upper and lower projecting-ears, a

7 line transporter comprising'front' and rear 'jaws formed with an upperpairof fixed rails to sup:- port matrices by their' two upper projectingears at a lower level and the front jaw having a lower rail to supportmatrices by their lower front projecting ears at' an upper level, saidtransporter being provided with a long flat spring arranged to beardown; atone side of the composed line, upon the top edges of the upperprojecting ears of matrices supported at the upper level, said springbeing'backed up by a correspondingly long overlying shoulder formed onthe transporter.

v16.'Inor-for a slug casting machine equipped with matrices formed ontheir front and rear edges with uppenand'lower projecting ears, alineltransporter comprising front and rear jaws formedwith an upper pairof fixed rails to support matrices by their two upper projecting ears ata lower level and the front jaw having a lower rail to support matricesby their lower front projecting ears at an upper level, said transporterbeing provided with along fiat spring arranged to bear .down, at oneside-of the composed line,

upon the top edges of the upper projecting ears of matrices supported atthe upper level, said spring being formed at the receiving end of thetransporter with an upwardly turned portion to is retracted.

avoid interference withth'e matrices as'they enter the transporter andbacked up by, a corre'-' sponding shoulder formed on the transporter.17. A transporter as specified. in c1aim-10,,

characterized by the fact that the rail for supporting the matrices atthe upper level is retractible and that the overhead spring acts todepress such matrices to the lower level when the rail 18. In or for aslug casting mahine; a line transporter provided with means forsupporting matrices at upper and lower levels therein and witha'friction member arranged to cooperate solely with the upper levelmatrices and hold 7 V them in proper place upon means.

19. In or for a slug casting machine, a line transporter movable to andfrom casting position and provided with means for supporting theirsupporting matrices at upper and lower levels therein, said transporterbeing also provided with a pair of friction members arranged to engagethe upper level matrices at opposite sides of the composed line.

20. In or for a slug casting machine equipped with matrices formed ontheir front and rear ber arrangedon thefrear jaw of the transporter inposition to engage with the upper level matricesand serving to hold themin proper plac upon their single front supporting rail. 7 7

JOHN H. HILPMAN. 40

